Guinea pigs have belly buttons. Like other mammals, they give birth to their babies alive. This implies that they feed their babies during pregnancy through the umbilical cord. The feeding connection enters into the fetus through the belly button. In case you’re wondering, this only applies to all mammals, no. Birds and reptiles lay eggs and do not have belly buttons.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Kill Each Other?“
Do Guinea Pigs Have Umbilical Cords?
You have probably wondered about the birthing process in your pet. Do guinea pigs have umbilical cords? Here is what you need to know:
Guinea pigs share a biology system that is close to humans. Cavies are classified as mammals, the same as humans. So your pet’s reproduction process is the same as ours. When guinea pigs get pregnant, their fetus requires food and nutrients to survive. When you feed the pregnant guinea pig, the food and nutrients are extended to its baby. This process occurs through the help of the umbilical cord.
The umbilical cord is the connection between the mother and her baby. As such, she needs to consume enough nutritious food for her’s and the fetus’s growth. The length of a guinea pig’s umbilical cord is 2.5cm. The cord is severed after the birth of the baby guinea pig. And this is what becomes the belly button of the newborn pet. So, if you are wondering if guinea pigs have belly buttons, the answer is yes. The belly button may be inconspicuous because of its small size, but it is present.
The length of a guinea pig’s umbilical cord is 2.5cm. The cord is severed after the birth of the baby guinea pig. And this is what becomes the belly button of the newborn pet. So, if you are wondering if guinea pigs have belly buttons, the answer is yes. The belly button may be inconspicuous because of its small size, but it is present.
Further Reading: “How Long Can Guinea Pigs Go Without Hay?“
Do Guinea Pigs Like Their Belly Rubbed?
Guinea pigs generally do not enjoy being on their back and getting their bellies rubbed. In their natural environment, they are prone to danger from most things around them. This has caused them to instinctively always be on guard and prepared for threats. If your guinea pig ever gets comfortable enough for you to rub its belly, that would be an incredible feat. You might notice your pet’s prey instinct just by trying to pick her up.
This effect happens regardless of how long it has known you or likes you. Trying to reach her from above triggers a primal response that causes your little friend to run away. And this is the same effect gotten when you try to flip your pet over to touch its belly. It sees the gesture as a threat, and its survival instincts kick in immediately.
Further Reading: “Can The Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies?“
10 Interesting Body Facts You Didn’t Know About Guinea Pigs
As a pet owner, you have probably thought about how much resemblance your pet shares with you. Guinea pigs are no exception to this; they have some interesting body parts. Among these are:
1. Eyelids
Knowledge of this may be new to most Cavy owners. You probably won’t have noticed that your little furball has eyelids. It is barely noticeable because guinea pigs rarely close their eyes. This makes us question why they even have eyelids at all.
2. Nipples
Guinea pigs are mammals, and they birth their offspring just like humans. But there’s more. They also have nipples used for feeding their young ones. Although the nipples are difficult to notice, this is due to their small size. A cavy’s nipples become conspicuous after the birth of their offspring.
3. Tongue
Cavies happen to have tongues. It is not much of a secret as any guinea pig owner has probably seen its tongue. They stick their tongue out very often. If you don’t own one, you can always look at pictures on the internet.
4. Sharp Teeth
As a guinea pig owner, there is a chance you have noticed this. However, their teeth are not particularly obvious to people. They have huge front and back teeth that continuously grow. But this affects their diet because they need chewy foods in order not to develop dental problems. They have four large front teeth, which are sharp and can bite through your skin. However, this is highly unlikely because they are friendly to humans. The problem lies within them fighting each other.
5. Belly Button
Guinea pigs have belly buttons. However, this is a part most people never notice. The only time most owners notice it is during pregnancy. The belly button is the umbilical cord connector just like in humans. It passes food from the mother guinea pig to the fetus. Upon birth, the umbilical cord is severed, leaving the belly button in place.
6. Acute hearing
Cavies have small ears that are barely noticeable. Despite their little ears, they are capable of hearing frequencies the human ears cannot pick up. And this how they sense when danger is nearby. However, they are more prone to noise injury than us and most non-primate models.
7. Claws
Guinea pigs have two sets of four feet. The first sits in the forefeet; these are at the front and have four sharp claws. But the hind feet have three sharp claws. Cavies mostly use these claws when territorial fights occur among them.
8. Tail
The lack of tail in cavies is a major distinction from other rodents. Although most of the other animals in the rodent family are the same size as cavies, they have tails. Guinea pigs on the other hand do not have tails. In some cases, your pet will only have long furs that may appear as a tail, but it is not.
9. Nose
A great sense of smell is not common among most mammals. Cavies have an accurate sense of smell. This is why they know when you are about to feed them. Their sense of smell has developed over time in the wild as a survival mechanism.
10. Eyes
Cavies have poor eyesight and peripheral vision. This means that they have their eyes facing sideways. So your pet can view her environment better from her two sides and can see at a 340-degree angle.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Get Worms?“
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs are some of the most adorable creatures in the world. Their beauty and intelligence are major upsides to having them as pets. Their similarity to humans makes them even more incredible in the eyes of most people. And yes, guinea pigs have belly buttons. They also have nipples, eyelids, and sharp teeth. Cavies require a lot of attention and constant check-ups. With all in check, there is a good chance your pet will live a long and happy life.
